YOUR WAY OR MY WAY?

Neither! It’s God’s way that matters. For years churches have started Americanized churches in other countries professing to be fulfilling the great commission. Besides the fact that God never intended us to start Americanized churches in places like Africa, Mexico, and Canada, maybe He never intended Americanized churches to exist anywhere. The current religious status of churches is far from the description of the church Jesus started. Many are asking the question, “How can I know if I belong to a Biblical church?".

Some claim a biblical church to be one that believes a particular doctrinal statement. I have to dismiss this idea with a laugh and my eyes crossed in frustration about such a shallow check list. The real criteria of a biblical church is NOT about buildings, pews, pulpits, style of music, pianos, organs, guitars, drums, a particular S.S. literature, or 21 beliefs on a sheet of paper, but REAL people who PRACTICE what they say the Bible teaches!

1. Does your pastor live what he preaches?
2. Do you follow your pastor’s example and leadership?
3. What is your church doing to reach lost people?
4. How much time do you spend in prayer about people who are going to Hell?
5. How long has it been since you have seen someone saved as a result of your church ministry?
6. Is your baptistery a storage department or is it used regularly?
7. Are new leaders being trained in your church?
8. Does your worship service invite the presence of God or scare Him away (not talking about style, but excellence)?
9. Are you learning HOW to live for Jesus or just learning WHAT the Bible says about it?
10. Is your church kind and loving or a bickering body of strife?
11. Is your church starting new churches?
12. Is your church growing or dieing?

Why are some churches growing and reaching people and others dieing in a coma? Is it because some fields are harder than others and people are not responding? No. The answer is that something is missing. It is not enough to say you believe something; you must practice what you believe! If your church is dieing stop insulting the power and glory of God by pretending that you are contending for the faith! We only have one shot to reach the people of this age; will you sit on the sideline or join in the fun?!

Note: I do realize that there are exceptions to the comments in the last paragraph. In most cases the field is not harder, but there are certain areas in the world where reaching people is a slower process. However, we need to be careful to compare our fields to that of Ezekiel, and make sure we are connected to God and doing what we are supposed to be doing. To many people are using the excuse, "Ezekiel didn't have one result from his ministry."